Reform UK plans welfare ban for foreign nationals, including EU citizens

Reform UK has unveiled a significant policy proposal that would prohibit foreign nationals, including those from the European Union, from accessing nearly all welfare benefits. This announcement comes as the party prepares to formally present its comprehensive welfare plans.

Robert Jenrick, Reform's shadow chancellor, is scheduled to deliver a speech detailing the party's welfare strategy. In a statement released ahead of this address, Jenrick asserted that "forcing British workers to pay for the benefits of foreigners is not just economically illiterate but plain immoral." He further argued that the British taxpayer cannot sustain subsidizing individuals who have not contributed to the system.

Reform UK estimates that its proposed welfare reforms could generate substantial savings, projecting a total of £50 billion per year. The party has developed a detailed 50-page plan, which includes replacing the current disability payments system, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), should they come into power.

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Forcing British workers to pay for the benefits of foreigners is not just economically illiterate but plain immoral.

The proposed ban would affect a wide range of benefits, including housing benefit, pension credit, jobseeker's allowance, child benefit, free childcare, and disability benefits. Limited exemptions are anticipated, such as for war widows' pensions and Armed Forces compensation. Previously, Reform UK had pledged to restrict access to Universal Credit for foreign nationals.

These proposals are part of Reform UK's broader platform aimed at reshaping the country's welfare system and addressing concerns about public spending. The party's stance on welfare and immigration is a central theme in its political messaging.

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People are more than happy to support their neighbours in hard times, but the British taxpayer cannot afford to subsidise everyone on the planet, especially those who have not paid in.